Theodore meinhold



(mmel') T. MEINHOLD.

ZITHBR ATTACHMENT. No. 498,561. Patented May 30, 1893.

UNrTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

`THEODORE MEINHOLD, OF KLINGENTHAL, GERMANY.

ZITH ER ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,561, dated May 30, 1893. Application filed February 23, 1893. Serial No. 463,505. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE ME1NHoLD,a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Klingenthal, in the Kingdom of Saxony and Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Zithers with Interchangeable Music-Sheets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a f ull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This my invention relates to devices for attaching to zithers the music sheet of the tune to be played, in a manner that the several notes are in a juxtaposition with the strings to be vibrated in the prescribed successive order, and it consists of a music sheet on which the several notes are arranged on a zigzag line so that each row of notes of the same tone will be in line with the string sounding that note, in placing the music sheet under the strings and between grooved guide-bars and in a device for locking the music sheet in proper position relative to the strings-all as will be more fully hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure l represents the music sheet with the notes imprinted thereon on zigzag line. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan View of the zither with note leaf attachment, and Fig. fi a longitudinal section of the zither without the note leaf, and Figs. 5, 6 and 7 represent a side view and sections of the note leaf locking device.

Corresponding referential characters in the several figures of the drawings designate like parts.

The music sheet or note leaf Ais a sheet of paper or cardboard of proper width and of a sufficientlength to provide the required surface for the tune to be imprinted thereon. Upon this sheet are drawn lengthwise and parallel with each other a series of lines a upon which the several notes or musical chan acters h are imprinted longitudinally at such distance apart as the strings or a multiple of strings of a zither are placed apart and in a manner that to indicate the same tone will be laterally in line with the same string of the zither. These notes in this manner being located in their successive order as prescribed for the time to be played upon the longitudinal lines in alternately reversed direction, the several guide lines are connected by semi-circular lines c that indicate the continuous direction from one edge 'of the leaf toward the opposite edge thereof, in which the strings are to be played in continuous succession. These note marks may be of the usual design as Whole notes or fractional notes, or other characters such as letters or figures may be substituted, that will indicate the value of the notes, or simply black marks may beimprinted which either by their size or different shapes will indicate the value of the note, as for example a square mark for a full note, a circular mark for a half note, a star for a quarter note, and a crescent for an eighth note, tbc.

Upon the box of the zither are rigidly secured in a transverse direction two wooden bars D to be parallel with each other and proper' distance apart. These guide bars D have in their opposing edges each a groove d, which grooves form the guides for the edges of the music sheet, and in the central portion of the strip D that is secured near the square end of the zither is formed a cavity for a leaf spring e secured with one end against the grooved edge of the bar to swing with its opposite end into said cavity. This leaf spring' e has fixed to its swinging end a buttonjithe shank of which upwardly extends through a slot in said bar, so that said spring can be swung by said button. This spring c has near its button end a tooth g which with releasing the spring will engage a notch h in the edge of the music sheet A so located relatively to the imprinted notes on said sheet, that an engagement of tooth g with notch h will place the proper musical notes or characters under the proper strings of the zither.

Vhat I claim isl. As an attachment to zithers a music sheet removably secured by proper means below the strings of the zither and having imprinted upon zigzag lines indicating in their successive order the musical characters composing the tune, said characters being spaced laterally that each will be below the string of the zither to which it has reference, substantially as set forth.

2. As an attachment to zithers the grooved guide bars D secured upon the box below the IOO strings of the Zither, substantially its and for h engaging tooth g, all substantially as set the purpose set forth. forth. 1o

3. AS an attachment to zithers the grooved In testimony whereof I aix my signature in guide bars D, secured upon the box of the presence of two witnesses.

Zither below the strings thereof, the spring e THEODORE MEINHOLD. secured to one of the guide bars D and hzw- Vitnesses: ing tooth g, and the music sheet A inserted A. FULEGER,

between said guide bars D and having notch M. UI-ILEMANN. 

